Mixing valve with secondary shutoff



United States Patent Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Lloyd Spencer 220Patrician Way, Pasadena, California 91105 June 2, 1969Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 565,336, June 27, 1966, abandoned, whichis a division of Ser. No. 359,392, Apr. 13, 1964, now Pat. No.3,384,121, May 21, 1968, which is a continuation-in-part of Sci-Q No.2,523, Jan. 14, 1960, abandoned, and Ser. No. 289,806, June 24, 1963,abandoned Sept. 29, 1970 MIXING VALVE WITH SECONDARY SHUTOFF 12 Claims,14 Drawing Figs.

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Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Attorney-Lloyd Spencer ABSTRACTtk-mixingvalve having hot and cold valve units movable simultaneously andalternately between open and closed positions by a common controlmember; the control member being manually operated from its front sideby a single handle, and also engageable from its back side to move bothunits simultaneously from any previous manual adjustment to their closedpositions.

2 TIME DELAY Patented Sept 29, 1970 3,530,889

NORMALLY OPEN TIME DELAY SWITCH /4 9 I fl- SOLENOID.

Z2 INVENTOR.

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QQWMM MIXING VALVE WITI-I SECONDARY SHUTOFF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION nowU.S. Pat. No. 3,384,l2l, issued May 21,1968, said patent being acontinuation-in-part of applications, Ser. No. 2,523, filed Jan. 14,1960, and, Ser. No. 289,806, filed June 24, 1963, both now abandoned.

Certain embodiments of the'present application are related to mycopending application, Ser. No. 814,990, filed Apr. 10, 1969, for MixingValve and Replaceable Valve Cartridge Therefor.

The present invention is summarized in the following objects:

First, to provide a mixing valve with a secondary shutoff wherein asingle control member is manually movable in two directions to effectmovement of two valves in unison or in opposition, or to move eithervalve separately while simultaneously moving a key element in a guide,the key element being accessible from the backside of the mixing valvethrough a linkage whereby, irrespective of the position in which thecontrol member may be placed, the linkage and key element may beoperated so that either or both valves may be moved'to their closedpositions.

Second, to provide a mixing valve as indicated in the preceding objectin which the linkage may be manually operated or provided with a timedelay to effect automatic closure of the valve after a predeterminedperiod.

Third, to provide a mixing valve wherein a plurality of mixing valves,such as may be installed in a gymnasium shower room, may be mechanicallylinked so that a single manual or electrical shutotf control may closeall the valves simultaneously.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial side view, partialsectional view of a mixing valve, corresponding to FIG. 19 of mycopending application, Ser. No. 565,336, and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,121,showing means for connection to a time delay in order that the mixingvalve may be shut off after a predetermined interval.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the control ball journal sockethaving means for accommodation of a time delay means.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken through 3-3 of FIG. 1,showing the control ball and means for attachment to the time delaymeans.

FIG. 4 is an electrical diagram of the time delay means.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, showing a modified mixing valve wherein thecontrol ball is provided with passages which communicate with inletports, but which incorporates. a cam shoulder for limiting movementessentially as shown in connection with the mixing valve shown in FIGS.1 through 22 of my copending application, Ser. No. 565,336, and in U.S.Pat. No. 3,384,121.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view at right angles to FIG. 5, with a time delaymeans indicated fragmentarily.

FIG. 7 is a back view of the modified mixing valve.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the modified mixing valve with the controlball and retainer cap removed.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken through 9-9 of FIG. 8,showing the control ball and means for connection to the time delaymeans.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing a modified form of thesecondary shut off adapted to the mixing valve disclosed in .mycopending application, Ser. No. 814,990.

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view, taken through 11-1] of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the valve cartridge.

FIG. I3 is an exploded view of the principal parts of the valvecartridge, the parts being shown in plan.

FIG. I4 is a diagrammatical view, indicating the manner in which severalmixing valves may be shut off simultaneously.

SPECIFICATION Referenceis first directed to FIGS 1 through 4. The mixingvalve here illustrated embodies the essential features of the mixingvalve shown in FIGS. 1 through 19 of my copending application, Ser. No.565,336 and also U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,12l to which has been added a meansfor effecting automatic shut off after a predetermined time delay.

As more particularly set forth in the aforementioned application andpatent, the mixing valve includes a body 1, having a pair of inlets 2for hot and cold water, and an outlet 3. The front end of the valve body1 is provided with a recess encompassing thewalvebores (not shown)communicating with the inlets. A retainer cup 4, having a'hemisphericalsocket 5 is formed in the journal member 4 and receives a cam ball 6,

having the cam areas and cam shoulder more fully described in theaforementioned application and patent. The cam ball is held in place bya retainer sleeve 7, provided with an inturned flange 8. A handle 9extends from the cam ball. The ball 6 is provided with a key pin socket10 which confronts a key pin slot [1.

To accommodate the time delay, there is provided in the valve bodymember I, a bore la which is isolated from the water passages therein.The front end of the bore Ia confronts the retainer cup 4 and a slit 12communicates between the key pin slot or groove 11.

The key pin socket 10 receives a key pin 13, having a slot whichjournals one end of a link 14 by means of a journal rivet 15. The link14 extends into the bore and is pivotally connected by a journal rivetto a plunger 16.

Suitably mounted at the rear end of the valve body member 1 is a housing17 which contains a solenoid armature 18 connected to the plunger 16.The armature is reciprocable within a solenoid I9.

Also within the housing 17 is a switch 20 which is held open when themixing valve is in its closed position and the armature is in itsextreme rearward position. Upon opening of the mixing valve, the switch20 closes to initiate operation of a conventional time delay unit 21having a normally open switch adapted to close after a predeterminedinterval. When the time delay switch closes, the solenoid 19 isenergized, causing the armature to return to its initial position and,in doing so,

pulls on the plunger 16, link 14 and key pin 13, and draws the cam ball6 to its off position, as shown in FIG. 1. During the periodpredetermined by the time delay, the mixing valve may be manuallyadjusted to any position to provide any desired volume or temperature ofwater as the solenoid is not activated. Should it be desirable to shutoff the mixing valve before operation of the time delay, this may bedone without interference by the time delay means.

Reference is now directed to FIGS. 5 through 9. The mixing valve hereillustrated differs from the first described mixing valve in that themodified mixing valve includes a control ball 60 which serves both as acam ball and as a valve ball. The control ball 60 is provided'with ahemispherical outer part 6b, an inner hemispherical part 6c and a camshoulder 6d, but in place of the cam areas provided on the cam ball 6,the inner hemisphericalpart 6c is provided with a valve area 22 which iscontoured spherically and mayv have the same radius as the outerhemispherical part 6b.

intersecting the valve area 22 is a hot water port 23 and a cold waterport 24 forming radially inwardly converging passages which intersecteach other and also intersect a water outlet port 25. The outlet portalso intersects the surface of the valve area 22.

A valve body 26 is provided which includes a hot water inlet passage 27and cold water inlet passage 28. These intersect converging recesses 29and 30, which in turn intersect a common hemispherical retainer socket5a which journals the cam and valve ball 60. i

The recesses 29 and 30 receive valve seat members 31 formed of asuitable elastomer and having forward faces which are sphericallycontoured for sealing engagement with the control ball 6a. Springs 32urge the seats into sealing contact.

A retainer ring 33 is adapted for screw thread engagement with theforward end of the valve body 26 and is provided with an inturned flange8a forming an opening 8b, spherical portion 8c and stop shoulder 8d. Inaddition, the spherical portion 8c is provided with a groove whichreceives an O-ring 82 for sealing engagement with the outer part 612 ofthe control ball and a gasket 8f is interposed between the retainer ringand valve body. This outer part is provided with a handle 90, which isscrew threaded or otherwise secured directly to the control ball.

As in the first structure, the control ball 6a is provided with a keypin 13a which rides in a key pin slot or groove Ila formed in the socketa disposed in a plane at right angles to a plane common to the recesses29 and 30. In this case, the key pin slot is formed in a plug 34 set ina recess formed at one side of the recesses 29 and 30.

The control ball 6a moves within the boundaries determined by the camshoulder 6d in the manner of the control ball 6. Such movement causesthe hot and cold water ports to move to and from coincidence with thevalve seats 31 for volume selection or for individual selection of hotor cold water.

As in regard to the first described mixing valve, the modified mixingvalve may be provided with a time delay means which may be essentiallyidentical, except that a plunger 16a is provided with a sealing O-ring16b.

While the stop shoulder is shown as formed within the journal means forthe control ball, and the cam shoulder is shown on the control ball, itshould be noted that the stop shoulder may be provided on the controlball and the cam shoulder within the journal means.

Reference is now directed to FIGS. through 13. The mixing valve hereillustrated in part is more particularly disclosed in copendingapplications, Ser. No. 814,990, filed April 10,

1969 and Ser. No. 814,991, also filed April 10, 1969.

A base member 41 is provided, having a depending portion 42 dimensionedto extend through an aperture provided in the margin ofa sink. The basemember is provided with a flanged upper end 43 which rests on themargins of the aperture. The base member is provided with hot and coldwater inlet passages, as shown and described in the copendingapplication, Ser. No. 814,990.

Mounted on the base member 41 is a replaceable valve unit or cartridge44, which will be later described. Mounted on the cartrige 44 is ajournal ball 45, which includes a bottom component 46 and a topcomponent 47. A single bolt 48 extends downwardly through the journalball 45 and replaceable valve cartridge 44 and screw threads into thebase member 41. Retained on the journal ball 45 is a socket structure49, shown fragmentarily and more fully described in the above-mentionedcopending applications.

The socket structure moves in essentially the same pattern as the camball 6 and is provided with a key pin 50. The components of the journalball are provided with complementary key slots 51 and central journalrecesses 52. The key slots serve the samepurpose as the key pin slot 11of the valve shown in FIG. 1. Received in the slots is a lever arm 53,having a yoke at its inner end straddling the bolt 48 and journals 54which fit the recesses 52.

Downward movement of the key pin 50, from the solid line position to thedotted line position shown in FIG. 10, serves to shut off a pair ofvalves, only portions of which are herein illustrated, but which arefully described and shown in the copending application. Ser. No.814,990. More specifically, as in the case of the valves shown in FIGS.1 and 6, movement of the key pin 50 will shut off the mixing valve ifonly the hot or cold valve is open, or if both are open.

The cartridge 44 is a modification of a replaceable cartridge shown inthe copending application, Ser. No. 814,990, which has been arranged toaccommodate a shut-off rod 55, which extends therethrough. The upper endof the rod 55 extends through a bore 56 in the bottom component 46 ofthe journal ball 45, and also through a bore 57 in the base member 41.

The replaceable cartridge 44 is encased in a hub structure 58, indicatedfragmentarily in FIG. 10 and fully described in the copendingapplication, Ser. No. 814,990.

The replaceable valve cartridge 44 includes a bottom gasket 59 on whichis mounted a bottom or valve seat disk 60. The disk 60 is provided withhot and cold water ports 61. The bottom gasket is provided with valveseat sleeves 62 which fit the ports 61.

The bottom disk 60 is provided with a central bore which receives thelower end of a tie sleeve 63, and is also provided with an ofi'set borewhich receives a guide sleeve 64 for the shut off rod 55. A valvechamber disk 65 is mounted on the disk 60 and is perforated toaccommodate the tie sleeve 63 and guide sleeve 64.

The valve chamber disk 65 is covered with a lower valve guide disk 66,also perforated to accommodate the tie sleeve 63 and guide sleeve 64.

Overlying the lower valve guide disk 66 is a diaphragm gasket 67 whichis clamped against the disk 66 by an upper valve guide disk 68. The disk68 and gasket 67 are perforated to receive the sleeves 63 and 64. Asfully shown and described in the copending application, Ser. No.814,990, the disks and gaskets cooperate with hot and cold water valvemeans which are operated by cam follower pins 69, indicated in sectionin FIG. 11. The sleeves 63 and 64 terminate at the upper side of thedisk 68 and are flanged. Both sleeves are in sealing engagement with thebottom disk 60 and the top disk 68. This may be accomplished bymechanical pressure exerted by the ends of the sleeves against thedisks, or with the aid of suitable sealants.

The shut-off rod 55 may be connected to a solenoid control similar tothat shown in FIG. 1, or other time delay control. However, the rod 55is arranged to be pushed, rather than pulled.

In the case of each of the embodiments illustrated, a manually operatedswitch may be substituted for the time delay. Such a switch may controla group of mixing valves; for example, shower valves in a washroom, asmay be required to control a group of persons using the showers. While amaster valve would accomplish the same purpose, this would require thateach shower valve be manually shut offlater. In place ofa solenoid valvefor each outlet, if simultaneous shutoff is desired, a single controlmay be mechanically linked to a group of valves as suggested in FIG. 14.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown adescribed, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of theconstructions set forth, but instead, the invention embraces suchchanges, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and theirrelationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mixing valve. comprising:

a. a valve body structure having hot and cold water inlets, an outlet,and having an exposed side and a concealed side;

. a pair of valve means for said inlets;

. a first control means movable within an essentially triangular areafor selecting and mixing flow through said valve means;

d. a second control means movable in a linear path by said first controlmeans coincidental with operation of said first control means to controlflow through said valve means, said second control means being operableto effect movement of said first control means toward its valve closingposition;

e. means at the exposed side of said valve body structure for operatingsaid first control means;

f. and means at the concealed side of said valve body structure foroperating said second control means.

2. A mixing valve. as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. said first control means includes a ball member journaled about anessentially point center;

and said second control means includes a pin carried by said ball memberand a guide slot for said pin.

A mixing valve, as defined in claim 2, wherein: said valve means arelocated externally of said ball member. A mixing valve, as defined inclaim 2, wherein said valve means are located internally of said ballmember.

socket member and a guide slot for said pin.

A mixing valve, as defined in claim 5, wherein:

a. a fixed ball journals said socket member;

a lever is pivotally received in said guide slot and journals said pin;and

said concealed means includes a rod operatively connected with saidlever.

A mixing valve, as defined in claim 1, wherein said second control meansincludes a time delay operable after a predetermined period to effectclosure of said valve means, and means for initiating said periodactivated by initial movement of first control means.

. an exposed handle for said control member;

key and track means for limiting said control member to two axes ofmovement about said center;

. co-operating means formed by said journal means and said controlmember, operable to cause said handle and regions at the back side ofsaid control member to describe essentially triangular figures, saidregions having cam contours;

valve units in said hot and cold water inlets and confronting saidregions, said valve units being responsive to movement of said controlmember for opening and closing said inlets; and a link connected to saidkey element to move said control member toward said valve closingposition independently of said handle. A mixing valve, as defined inclaim 8, wherein: means is operable to move said link in a direction toclose said valve units; a time delay for withholding operation of saidmeans for a predetermined period; and

means operable by initial movement of said control means for initiatingoperation of said time delay.

10. A mixing valve, as defined in claim 8, wherein said control memberis a ball member.

11. A mixing valve, as defined in claim 8, wherein said control memberis a socket member.

12 A mixing valve, comprising:

a control member of spherical contour; a valve body structure includinga journal means for said control member, said journal means and controlmember cooperating to limit said control member to movement about apoint center;

key and track means interconnecting said control member and journalmeans to limit movement of said control member to two axes of movementabout said center; a handle for moving said control member; circularconfronting stop shoulders formed by said control member and saidjournal means, one of said stop shoulders being contoured to form a camhaving a plurality of facets and peaks therebetween, whereby, on rollingcontact with said stop shoulders, said handle and regions at the side ofsaid control member opposlte from said handle, describe essentiallypolygonal figures, said regions having cam contours; valve units in saidbody structure confronting said regions and responsive to movement ofsaid control member for opening and closing flow passages therein; and

a link member connected to said key and extending through said valvebody in a direction opposite from said control member, said link memberbeing engageable to move said control member to a position closing saidvalve units independently of said handle.

